NFL Week 6 Injury Report – Early Games:

Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons

Dolphins

DeVante Parker (D) is unlikely to play in Week 6 after missing practice all week while nursing an ankle injury. He exited Week 5 early with a sprained ankle and was spotted leaving the stadium on crutches. He is likely battling continued soreness and swelling in the ankle, and given that he was unable to practice all week, expect Parker to pop up on the injury report in Week 7.

Falcons

Mohammad Sanu (O) will not play in Week 6 after injuring his hamstring in Week 4. Despite the extra week of rest during the team’s bye, Sanu was held out of practice all week. He is expected to miss multiple games, so his name will likely be on this list again next week. Taylor Gabriel should see an uptick in targets with Sanu out.

Matt Bryant (Q) didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday but returned to practice on Friday, and despite the questionable tag, he is expected to play while dealing with a back injury. I don’t normally discuss kickers in the injury report, but given that Bryant is a weekly top choice at the position, he is worthy of a mention. Double check the final inactives Sunday morning to ensure Bryant will give it a go.

Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens

Terrance West (O) is dealing with a calf strain, which he injured in Week 5. He did not practice all week, so his availability for Week 7 is also in question. Calf injuries can be tricky to come back from, especially ones that require a multi-week absence. With the emergence of Buck Allen and Alex Collins, West doesn’t offer much fantasy value even when healthy.

Jeremy Maclin (Q), despite being listed as questionable, is on track to play in Week 6. He’s dealing with some shoulder soreness but didn’t miss practice at all this week. He’ll be ready to go for Sunday’s game.

Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Packers

Ty Montgomery (Q) sat in Week 5 after breaking multiple ribs in Week 4. He wore a flack jacket this week in practice and was able to get in full sessions all week. While this is promising regarding his availability for Sunday, there’s no way to replicate game speed hits and tackles to a very sore rib cage. If he does suit up in Week 6, expect the Packers to limit Montgomery’s exposure, making him a risky start.

Vikings

Sam Bradford (O) made his return to the field in Week 5 after missing the previous 3 weeks with a bone bruise in his left knee. He did not look like himself during the game, shying away from contact and looking hesitant to step into his throws. The Vikings likely brought Bradford back too soon, and as a result, his future as the 2017 starter is in question. Bradford will be on this list again next week. Until he returns, Case Keenum will be under center for the Vikings.

Stefon Diggs (O) will not play in Week 6 after injuring his groin during Monday Night Football in Week 5. Diggs dealt with groin injuries off and on last year, and when he tried to play through the injury, he was highly ineffective. Along with hamstring strains, groin strains tend to have very high recurrence rates, so the Vikings holding him out until he’s 100% is in their best interest. I’ll be watching the practice reports next week to see what Diggs is doing in practice.

Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints

Lions

Matthew Stafford (Q) isn’t in danger of missing Sunday’s game after practicing in full all week with a high ankle sprain and a hamstring injury on his left leg. He got banged up in Week 5 with both injuries, but the belief all along is that Stafford will give it a go on Sunday against the Saints, even if he is less than 100%. Expect the Lions to keep Stafford’s throws short and allow him to get the ball out of his hands quickly in an effort to limit the amount of mobility and scrambling required by Stafford. This could mean good things for Golden Tate and the pass-catching backs in Detroit.

Kenny Golladay (Q) is currently dealing with a hamstring strain, which has caused him to miss the last two weeks. He was limited in practice all week and should be considered truly questionable for Week 6. Worth noting, the Lions are on bye in Week 7, so it’s possible Detroit sits the rookie this week in order to have him available for Week 8 and beyond.

Saints

Willie Snead (Q) missed the first few weeks of the season due to suspension and was forced to sit in Week 4 with a hamstring injury. The Saints were on bye in Week 5, and it appears as though the extra week rest and rehab have improved his chances of playing in Week 6. Head coach, Sean Payton claims that Snead’s hamstring is 100%, but I’m not buying it given that he hasn’t practiced in full. Coming off an injury and making his regular season debut, I’m avoiding Snead if I have a better option.

New England Patriots vs. New York Jets

Patriots

Tom Brady has been dealing with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder but the sentiment all along is that Brady will play on Sunday. In terms of throwing the ball, he won’t be limited, but if Brady takes a few sacks or direct blows to the top of the shoulder, he could experience an increase in his symptoms. Fortunately, Brady is not a running QB, so he won’t be exposed to extra hits.

Rob Gronkowski popped up on the injury report in Week 5 just before the team’s TNF action against the Bucs with a thigh injury. He was surprisingly held out but is set to return in Week 6 after being taken off the team’s final injury report. There haven’t been many details regarding Gronk’s injury, but given the ‘thigh’ designation, it’s likely a quad or hamstring strain. Historically, the Pats aren’t afraid to hold Gronk out of games if he’s less than 100%, so if they’re confident in him, I’m confident in him.

Rex Burkhead (O) will miss another week while recovering from a rib injury suffered in Week 2. He appears to be close to returning, given his increased activity in practice, but with their stable of running backs, the Patriots can choose to be conservative, which should mean good things for Burkhead’s health moving forward.

Jets

Matt Forte will make his return to the field after missing the past two weeks with turf toe, which is a sprain of the big toe. This injury can be very difficult to play through, as you need a lot of toe extension in order to be able to effectively push off and cut when changing direction. I’ll be watching Forte closely during his first few carries, as this injury can linger until it’s fully healed.

Bilal Powell (Q) is listed as questionable, but he is not expected to play after missing practice all week with a calf strain. Much like hamstring injuries, calf strains have a high recurrence rate, so the Jets would be smart to hold Powell out until he is 100%. With Powell likely to miss, Eli McGuire should see an expanded role.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Redskins

Rob Kelley (D) is most likely going to miss Week 6 with a sprained ankle. He was unable to practice all week, and coach, Jay Gruden, even stated that Kelley was a “long shot” to play. This quote tells me this could be a multi-week injury. Practice reports next week should provide some more clarity.

NFL Week 6 Injury Report – Late Games:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Arizona Cardinals

John Brown and J.J. Nelson continue to be listed on the injury report with muscle strains to their quad and hamstring, respectively. Both were limited early in the week but upgraded to ‘full’ on Friday and are in no danger of missing Week 6. The Cards’ are likely just limiting their reps in order to prevent the injuries from recurring.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce was removed from the Chief’s injury report after clearing the concussion protocol. He’s good to go for Sunday’s tilt with the Steelers.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders

Chargers

Mike Williams (Q) may make his NFL debut in Week 6 after missing the majority of training camp and the first month of the season with a back injury. His usage on Sunday will likely be limited as the Chargers begin to phase him into the offense, but in deep leagues, he’s worth an add to see how his role develops in a pass-happy offense. With Tyrell Williams failing to take control of the WR2 role in LA, Williams could line up across from Keenan Allen in just a few weeks.

Raiders

Derek Carr missed Week 5 with a fractured transverse process in one of the vertebrae of his lower back but will play in Week 6 after getting in a full practice on Friday. Unlike fractures in other parts of the body, which typically require at least 6 weeks to heal, Carr will be able to play through the fracture as it heals. He will likely wear an extra protection garment around his lower abdomen to provide extra protection, as any direct shots to the injury will be very painful. For what it’s worth, this is the same injury Tony Romo had in 2014, and he was able to return just 2 weeks after his injury.

New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos

Giants

Sterling Shepard (O) will sit in Week 6 after spraining his ankle in Week 5. It was a brutal week for the G men after they lost OBJ and Brandon Marshall for the year with ankle injuries of their own. With Shepard the now default #1 wideout, he should see plenty of volume to make him fantasy relevant when he returns. Shepard is also unlikely to play in Week 7 but watch the practice reports later in the week to be sure.

Paul Perkins (O) has been ruled out with a rib injury sustained in Week 4. The Giants will look for Wayne Gallman, Orleans Darkwa, and Shane Vereen to form a committee against the league’s best overall defense. This backfield should be avoided in Week 6 if possible.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans

Colts

Andrew Luck (O) will miss yet another week as he continues to gradually increase his football activities and throwing program in practice. As we’ve seen all year, Luck continues to get ruled out early in the week, indicating he’s not close to returning. He’s still multiple weeks away.

Jack Doyle will return to the field in Week 6 after missing one game with a concussion. He has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Titans

Marcus Mariota (Q) was limited in practice all week after injuring his hamstring in Week 4. He sat in Week 5 but could play on Monday night after getting in limited sessions all week. If he plays, expect the Titans to limit his running upside by designing more pocket passes and relying on Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry for production on the ground. Mariota owners would be smart to pick up Jacoby Brissett as a security option if the Titan QB sits again in Week 6.

I'm a sports and orthopedic physical therapist currently working in Burlington, VT. I've been a sports fan my entire life and when I became a PT, I decided to combine my two passions into one awesome hobby. My goal is to provide injury analysis and information so that you can win your next dynasty title. Follow me on twitter: @TheFantasyPT